Conveying and delivery mechanism



Aprll 6, 1943. E. s. TASCHER ET AL CONVEYING AND DELIVERY MECHANISMFiled April 17, 1940 7 Sheeis-Sheet 1 in EUGENE TASCHER WILL/AM BAZANTBY April 1943- E. s. TASCHER ET AL 2,315,670

CONVEYING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 1'7, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2ENVENTORS EUGENE 5. mac/4m BW/LL/AM 5Az-n/T 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April17, 1940 E. S. TASCHER ET AL CONVEYING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM A ril 6,1943.

April 6, 1943. E. s. TASCHER ET AL 2,315,670

CONVEYING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4ENVENTORS E 5. TASLIHE/E L/A/W BAZA T HUGE/V WU.

April E. s. mam-15R ETAL fi fi CONVEYING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM FiledApril 1'7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTOR EUGENE S. TASCHEE WILL/AMBAZAN7 CONVEYING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1940 7Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR EUGENE .5. TASCHEI? BVILLIAM BAZANT 3% m w w 7 Ew W m WWA m QM N M/ m S nL E75 O m 1H VS T t QNM, %N\ M M I e A m w Qm mf m Q? emf/7M 1 M 0 up F, Apm ma 1%- E, s. TASCJHER ETAL CONVEYING ANDDELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 17 1940 Patented Apr. 6, 1943 2,315,670CONVEYING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM Eugene S.

tional Biscuit Company,

Tascher, Ingleside, Ill., Bazant, Wyandanch and William N. Y., assignorsto Na- New York, N. Y., a

corporation or- New Jersey Application April 1'1, 1940, Serial No.330.140

21 Claims.

Our invention pertains to conveying and delivery mechanism.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a conveyingand delivery mechanism wherein the articles being conveyed and deliveredautomatically control the feed and timing of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a conveying anddelivering machine that will measure by volume and with exactness theweight or unit quantity of the articles that will be delivered.

Another object is to provide a feeding and control means whereby anexact predetermined volume (and hence weight) of the articles will bedelivered each time from the conveyor, the means being arranged so thatit cannot operate until that exact volume is ready to be delivered.

Another object is to provide means for adjusting the volume measuringmeans so that the exact required volume will be measured and deliveredeach time.

Another object is to provide means whereby one or more continuouslydriven conveyors will receive the articles continuously at one end andat the other end, deliver them intermittently in measured quantities.

Another object is to provide means whereby articles being carried bytwo, or a multiple of two, continuously driven conveyors will bedelivered intermittently and simultaneously from the two conveyors inmeasured quantities to form a single row of articles on a singlecontinuously driven conveyor, which in turn, delivers the articlesintermittently in measured quantities from its delivery end.

Another object is to provide in a single machine a means forcontinuously receiving articles to be packed, (as crackers or biscuit)and arrange them in a single stack or row of the width of the carton inwhich they are to be packed, means for advancing the single row orstack, means for intermittently and automatically measuring anddelivering definite unit quantities of the articles from the leading endof the stack, each unit quantity being of such size as to fill acommercially practicable package.

Another object of our invention is to provide means operating incombination with an endless conveyor, driven continuously at uniformspeed, whereby crackers or other products carried by the conveyor willbe advanced intermittently and will be lifted out of contact with themoving conveyor during their intervals of rest.

Still another object is to provide a pair, or a multiple of pairs, ofparallel endless conveyors driven continuously at uniform speed eachcarrying a stacked row of crackers that are advanced intermittently, incombination with means that will transfer a measured quantity ofcrackers, while the stacks of crackers are at rest, from each conveyorto a single continuously driven conveyor that moves at double the speedof the pair of conveyors.

The above and many other objects and advantages over prior conveying anddelivering machines are attained by our invention, one em-' bodiment ofwhich we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig, 1 is a plan view of one form of our invention showing how it may beused to deliver unit quantities of crackers to a cracker packagingmachine.

Fig. 1-0 is a detail sectional view on line lala of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section on the line 2-2, of Fig.1, of the receiving end of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4of Figs. 1 and 3 showing details of the pusher chain and solenoid forraising the elevator bars or rails.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1,the carton forming mechanism being omitted.

Fig. '7 is a view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8--3 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows a leader or starting block, one of which is used at thehead of each stack of crackers when the machine is first set inoperation.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8.

Fig, 11' is a detail view of the pusher operating mechanism. v

Fig. 12 is a detail of the solenoid and clutch control for the pusher.

Fig. 13 is a diagram of the wiring for controlling the solenoids foroperating the cracker elevator bars and clutches.

We have illustrated our invention as embodied in a machine for conveyingbiscuit or crackers such for example as the well-known Uneeda biscuitand graham crackers, both of which are baked in sheets, as distinguishedfrom or dropped biscuit, but this is for purposes of illustration onlyand it is to be understood that the invention may be used for handlingmany articles of merchandise and substantially all varieties of biscuitand crackers.

In modern bakeries, sheet goods, for which the form of the inventionillustrated is specifically designed, are baked on band ovens whichdeliver a continuous baked sheet, thirty inches or more in width, thatis scored or out both longitudinally and transversely so that it may bebroken along these cuts to form biscuit or crackers of the proper size.

As this baked sheet is delivered from the oven, it usually is brokenalong the transverse cuts so as to form strips of crackers the width ofwhich equals one dimension of the crackers and the length of which isequal to the width of the sheet. Each of these strps may contain from to20 crackers, joined end to end along cuts or weakened lines. Thesestrips must then be broken crosswise to separate the individualcrackers. In the case of graham crackers, they usually are broken onlyto form units of one or These separate units must placed in the cartons,and

According to our entire invention of which the present invention is apart, after the baked sheet of crackers is broken either by hand or bymachine into individual crackers, or short units of two or more crackerseach, the crackers or units are handled entirely automatically throughall operations of stacking, alining, feeding, measuring, filling,forming and closing until they emerge in closed cartons, each containingan exact volume and weight of crackers and without being touched orhandled by human hands.

When the articles being packed are graham crackers, as shown in thedrawings, they are about 2% inches square, and if the sheet of doughfrom which they are baked is sixteen crackers wide, then when the bakedsheet is broken into units of two crackers each, there will be eightparallel rows of these units as they come from the breakers. Thesemultiple rows of units (which we will refer to hereinafter as crackers,whether consisting of one, two or more crackers) with the crackersstanding on edge are delivered to the receiving end of our inventionwhere they are united to form a single row. From the leadcient to fill acarton are intermittently measured off and fed to a suitable cartonfilling machine.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the right hand end of the machine is thereceiving end which receives the crackers or other articles to be packedand the left hand end is the end of the machine where the crackers aredelivered in measured quantities. We will first describe the receivingend of the machine where two rows of crackers stacked on edge arereceived and combined into a single row traveling at twice the speed ofthe two rows.

Each of a pair ofendless belts or conveyors I and 2, which are drivencontinuously at uniform speed, receives a supply of crackers stacked onedge as they come in'units of two (in the case of graham crackers) fromthe machines which break them from the continuous sheet, or fromoperators if they are broken apart by hand.

These two conveyors I and 2- deliver their cut-out" is drivencontinuously at twice the speed of the conveyors I and 2 and at itsdelivery end 4 delivers the crackers intermittently in measuredquantities. Y

The mechanism for transferring the crackers from the two continuouslymoving conveyors I conveyor or belt 2 passes around pulleys 5 and i atits opposite ends and the conveyor I passes around similar pulleys 1 and8. The pulleys I and I are the driving pulleys.

As best shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the I are keyed to short in The shaft 9of the pulley 5 extends beyond the bed plate and carries a sprocket I0that is engaged by a chain II that also passes around the sprocket I2keyed to the shaft I3 of the pulley I, the sprockets I0 and I 2 beingthe same size. The shaft I3 also carries a sprocket I4 which is enfixedto the pulley I8 by which the conveyor 3 is driven. It will thus. beseenthat the pulley I8 runs at twice the speed of the pulleys 5 and 1and correspondingly drives the conveyor 3 faster. The shaft I I alsocarries a driving sprocket I 9 that is engaged by chain I 9' driven fromany suitable source of power which may be the motor 20 or an independentmotor.

The problem involved in this part of the mechanism is to convey thecrackers laterally from the continuously driven belts I and 2' onto thecontinuously driven belt 3 without changing the speed of any of thesebelts and without rubbing the edges of the crackers or otherwiseinjuring them. We accomplish this by intermittently, yet simultaneously,delivering measured quantities of the crackers from the stacks on theconveyors I and 2 to the conveyor 3 without in any way afbeing made.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the belts I and 2 run between pairs of lifterbars 25, 22 which bars normally are below the surface of the upper runsof the belts but which are adapted to be raised higher than the belts.The width of the belts I Outside the bars 2I and 22 are vertical flanges23, 2'4, 25, 26 which provide troughs to guide the ends of the crackersand keep them accurately in alignment.

When it is desired to stop the movement of the stacks of crackers so asto move a measured quantity laterally from the head these bars or rails2|, 22 are elevated so as to are raised and lowered by a linkage of camsand levers controlled by a solenoid 21. The core 28 of this solenoid isconnected to a lever 29 that is fixed crackers stacked on edge to aconveyor 3 which to a shaft 30 that extends across the machine and has acam or lifting finger 3| under each of the bars 2|, 22. Intermediate itsends this shaft 30 carries a fixed carries cams or fingers 3| forsimultaneously raising the right hand ends (Fig. 1) of the bars 2|, 22.This solenoid 21 is energized in timed relation with the delivery of thecrackers from the leading ends of the stacks on the belts and 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that there is a sliding follower34, 35 in alignment with each of the belts and 2 and adapted to beengaged and pushed toward the left in this figur by the stacks ofcrackers as they are carried forward on the belts. The follower 34 isfixed to one end of a rack 36 which is slidably mounted in guides 31, 38on the bed plate 8. On its under-surface this rack is provided withteeth that engage a pinion that is fixed to a short shaft carrying agrooved pulley 40 to which one end of a cord is attached that has aweight adapted to ris and fall in the well 4|. Adjacent the guide 31 isa mercury switch 42 which is one of three switches that are connected inseries in the circuit of the solenoid 21. The rack bar 36 carries anadjustable striker 43 which strikes and tilts the mercury switch 42 toclose the circuit through it when the rack bar and follower 34 are atthe extreme left end of their travel. Similarly the follower 35 has arack bar 44 engaging a pinion 45 mounted on a shaft fixed to the groovedpulley 46 to which is attached one end of a cord carrying a weightadapted to move up and down in the well 41. A striker 48 on the rack bar44 is adapted to strike the mercury switch 49 and tilt it so as to closethe circuit through the switch when the follower 35 is at its extremeleft hand position (Fig. 1). The switch 49 is in series with the switch42 in the circuit of the solenoid 21.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, there is a bracket 50, secured to each sideof the bed plate 8 adjacent to the two followers 34, 35. These twobrackets form guides for a pair of plungers 52, 53 which operatesimultaneously in timed relation to deliver the crackers laterally fromthe conveyors and 2 to the conveyor is adapted to slide in its bracketor support 58, 5|. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the plunger 52 hasa lug 54 to which one end of a link 55 is pivoted, the other end of thelink being connected to the upper end of lever 56, the lower end ofwhich is pivoted at 51 to the fixed frame of the machine. Intermediateits ends, the lever 56 is pivotly connected to a yoke 58 which straddlesa shaft 59 and has a follower 60 that engages in the groove of a cam 6|that is keyed to and driven by the shaft 59.

Similarly the pusher 53 has a depending lug 62 connected to a link 63which in turn is connected to the upper end of the lever 64, the lowerend of which is pivoted at 65 to the fram of the machine. A yoke 66 ispivoted to the lever 64 and also straddles the shaft 59. It has afollower engaging in the groove of a cam 1| which is likewise keyed tothe shaft 59. The two cams BI and 1| are keyed to the shaft 59substantially 180 degrees apart so as to operate the two plungers at thesame time.

The shaft 59 carries a with a gear 13 fixed on a frame of the machineand 14 of a Geneva drive. The Geneva drive has four grooves adapted tobe engaged by a roller 16 on an arm 11 that is keyed to a clutch shaft18. This clutch shaft 18 is driven by a one revolution clutch 19 whichmay be of standard construction. One element of this clutch is connectedto a sprocket 8|] and is driven continuously by the pinion 12 thatmeshes shaft journaled in the i chain 8| which passes around a sprocket82 connected to be driven through a variable speed drive 83 which inturn is driven by a belt or chain 83' from the motor 28 (Figs. 2 and 3)Referring again to Fig. 2, the clutch is is released periodically, so asto cause the arm 11 of the Geneva drive to make one revolution, througha solenoid 84 which is in parallel with the solenoid 21 and its circuitis in series with the two mercury switches 42, 49. There is a thirdswitch in the two solenoid circuits which must also be closed beforeeither solenoid 21 or 84 is energized. When the solenoid 84 isenergized, it raises the latch 85 (Fig. 3) so as to release the clutchdog 86 and permit the clutch to make one revolution. Almost immediatelyupon releasing the latch 85, the circuit through the solenoid 84 isbroken so that the latch returns to its position as shown in Fig. 3 toengage and stop the clutch wh n it has completed one revolution.

One revolution of the clutch 19 causes the arm 11 of the Geneva drive tomake one revolution and to turn the member 14 through 90. The ratio ofthe gears 13, 12 is four to one so that the shaft 59 and cams 6|, 1|make one complete revolution and the plungers 52, 53 move in and outacross the line of the belts I and 2 to feed the crackers to the belt 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the belts I and 2 stop short of the plungers 52, 53and the followers 34, 35 so 3. Each of these plungers carrying oneelement that the belts deliver the crackers standing on edge to transferplates 81, 81' which are substantially in alignment with the upper runof the belts and 2. The inner ends of the plungers 52 53 have open sidedrecesses 88, 89 through which the followers 34, 35 may slide.

Assume now that the belts I and 2 are filled throughout their lengthswith crackers that are being supplied continuously to their receivingends and are stacked on edge with their ends extending over rails 2|,22. As the heads of the columns of crackers advance toward the left(Fig. 1) they engage the followers 34, 35 and push them to the leftuntil the mercury switches 42, 49 are tipped to close the circuitthrough the solenoids 21 and 84 (together with the third switchpresently to be described which is in series with the switches 42 and49). When this happens the rails 2|, 22 are lifted to raise the crackersfrom the belts and 2. The columns ofcrackers are then stationary and theplungers 52, 53 move inward to push definite measured quantities of thecrackers from the head of the two columns from the plates 81, 81' ontothe belt 3. As the plungers 52 and 53 push the crackers inward, thefollowers 34, 35 are freed as soon as the stack of crackers clears themand they are then returned by the weights in the two wells 4|. 41 untilthey contact the heads of the columns of crackers that were leftstanding on the raised rails 2|, 22. Each of the guides 50, 5| has acracker clamp yieldably and slidably mounted thereon as best shown inFig. 1. Each of these clamps comprises a rod 96, 9| slidably mounted inbearings on the guides adjacent the respective plungers and at its innerend each has a sponge rubber or other yieldable head 92, 93 whichengages the edges of the crackers that are left standing on the rails2|, 22 so as to prevent their falling over as the plungers 53. 52 aremoved in and out. Each of these holders has a collar 94, 95 againstwhich one end of a light coil spring 96, 91 abuts, the other end of thespring engaging the bearing 98, 99 through which the stems 98, 9| slide.Each of the plungers has a lug I88, |8| which is adapted to engage thehead I02, I03 of the holders the crackers when the and withdraw themfrom plungers are retracted.

When the crackers are delivered by the plungers onto the belt 3, therails I04 adjacent the edges of the belt 3 are raised so that the stackof crackers is stationary. The crackers are then carried along on thebelt '3 in conjunction with the pusher mechanism that is best shown inFigs. 2 and 3. This pusher mechanism comprises a pusher chain I05carrying a number of pushers I06 (in this case, four) which are operatedin timed relation with the plungers 5:2, 53. The chain I05 passes oversprockets I01, I06 which are carried by an auxiliary frame that issupported above the table and transfer plates 61, 61'. The sprocket I08is the driven sprocket and it is fixed on a shaft I09 which has oneelement IIO of a slip clutch keyed to its outer end. The other elementIII of this slip clutch is rotatably mounted on the shaft I09 and has agear II2 which meshes with a gear H3 keyed to a shaft II4 having asprocket at its outer end that is driven by a chain II5 (Fig. 1) thatpasses around a sprocket keyed to the shaft I1. on which the drivingdrum for the belt 3 is secured. It will be seen that the element II I ofthe slip clutch is driven continuously while the member H0, andconsequently the pusher chain I05, is driven intermittently whenever theclutch element H0 is free to turn. Each of the pushers I 06 comprises afixed finger or lug which is secured to the chain I05 and a slidingfinger or tongue II6 which is adapted to slide in and out in the lugsI06 to increase and decrease the effective lengths of the lugs. As bestshown in Fig. 2, these fingers are free to slide in and out in thepushers I06. Looking at this figure, the upper run of the chain isrunning toward the right and the lower run toward the left. As shown onthe top run of the chain, the slidable fingers II6 are housed entirelywithin the pushers I06 while on the lower run of the chain the finger isextended its maximum amount below the pusher I06 at the right and itextends only a very small amount below the pusher I06 at the left. Eachof these fingers carries a pair of rollers III which are adapted toengage inclined tracks II8 up which the rollers ride to lift the fingersas they approach the left hand end of the chain. As the pushers goaround the sprocket I01 so as to turn the fingers up, the latter slidedown so that they are housed entirely within the pushers I06.

Mounted above the pusher chain is a pivoted mercury switch II9, the armof which has a projecting pin or lug I20 that is adapted to be engagedby the pushers I 06 as they pass it so as to tilt the switch II9 toclose the circuit through it. This switch I 49 previously described inthe circuit of the two solenoids 21, 04. When all three of the switchesare closed both circuits through the solenoids 21, 84 are closed toenergize them as shown in the diagram of Fig. 20.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 there is a pivoted stop I2I, theinner end of which is in the path of the finger II6 as it projects belowthe pusher I06 on the lower run of the pusher chain. The pushers I06 areso arranged on the chain that when one of the fingers II6 strikes thestop I2I, tilted the mercury switch II9 so as to close the circuitthrough it. When one of the fingers engages this stop, the pusher chaincomes to rest which it can do by reason of the slip clutch IIO, III. Theelement III of this the next following pusher has just the switch H9 I9is in series with the two slip clutch is rotated continuously but theelement III can rotate only when the stop I2I has been moved tc releasethe finger I I6.

When any one of the fingers II6 contacts the stop III, the switch II! isclosed and this operation is so timed that this switch is closed justbefore or simultaneously with the switches 42, 46 so that all three ofthem will then be closed and the two solenoids2l, l4 energized. Thissets the mechanism in operation to lift the rails 2|, 22 and move theplungers 52, 53 in so that they will push the two measured quantities ofcrackers (one from each stack) between the fingers II6 which is againstthe stop and the next preceding flnger II6 which has been partly raisedby the tracks As soon as the plungers 52, 53 push the crackers of thefollowers 34, 35, the followers are returned toward the right (Fig. 1)which withdraws the strikers 43, 40 from the mercury switches 42, 49 andbreaks the circuit through the two solenoids. At the same time that theplunger 52 advances on its in-stroke, a roller I22 which it carriescontacts the upper end of the pivoted stop I2I (Fig. 3) and rocks it outof the path of the finger II6 so as to release the latter and permit theclutch IIO, III to drive the pusher chain I05. At the same time, therails I 04 are released so as to lower the stack of crackers to the belt3. The finger II6 now engaged behind the two stacks of crackers thatwere delivered by the pushers 52, 53 advances toward the left (Figs. 1and 2) pushing the crackers ahead of where they are carried toward fromwhich they are delivered into contact with the stop I2I. At the sametime the second following pusher I06 contacts and closes the circuitthrough that, ready for another cycle as soon as the two switches 42, 49are again closed. When the plunger 52 is retracted, the roller I22releases the stop I2I which is returned into the path of the finger II6by a spring I23 (Fig. 3).

Referring to Fig. 1 the conveyor 3 at its left end delivers the crackersto a transfer plate I24 in front of a plunger I25 that is similar to theplungers 52, 53, previously described and in alignment with a followerI26 which is similar to the followers 34, 35. The follower I26 isconnected to a rack I21 which engages a pinion I28 that .is secured to agrooved pulley I29 over which a cord passes that is attached at at oneend to a weight adapted to rise and fall in the well I 30. A mercuryswitch I3I (which is a double switch or two switches secured together)is adapted to be tilted and closed by striker I 32 on the rack I 21 whenthe follower I26 is at the extreme left I04 when the solenoid I33 isenergized in the same manner that the rails 2|, 22 are lifted. Theoperation of this is apparent from Fig. 6 and need not be described indetail.

The solenoid I33 is also in circuit with the switch II3 which may beeither a single switch of contacts or may be two separate switches. onein the circuit with the switches 42 and 49 and the other In a secondcircuit with the solenoid I33, It will thus be seen that the solenoidI33 will be energized and the rails I04 raised when either the switchI3I or I I9 is closed. The switch I3I will be closed twice to eachclosing of the switch H9 and usually the closing of the switch II9 willcoincide with alternate closings of the switch I3I. The reason for thisdual control of the solenoid I33 is that the rails I04 must be raised tostop the feeding of crackers by the belt 3 each time that the plungerI25 delivers a measured quantity of crackers and also the rails I04 mustbe raised each time that the pushers I06 come to rest and stop thepushing of the crackers along to the belt 3.

The operation of pusher I25 to feed measured quantities of the crackersfrom the forward end of the column is controlled through a solenoid I34(Fig. 6) that in turn controls the operation of a one revolution clutchsimilar to the clutch 80 of Fig. 3. The solenoid I34 is in a circuitthat is controlled by the switch I3I which like the switch H9 is adouble switch or two independent switches, one in the circuit of thesolenoid I33 and the other in the circuit of the solenoid I34.Therefore, each time that the follower I26 is pushed to the left (Fig.1), the circuits through both of the solenoids I33, I34 will be closedwhich will cause the plunger I25 to feed a definite voltime andtherefore a definite weight of the crackers from the head of the column.

In Fig. 1 we have shown our invention as delivering to a packagingmachine with which its greatest utility is attained. The packagingmachine is illustrated only in part since per se it does not form partof the invention claimed in this application, but is shown, describedand claimed in our copending application, Ser. No. 388,958. An electricmotor 35, preferably having a built-in adjustable speed reduction drive,through a chain I36 drives a sprocket I45 that is fixed to one elementI46 of the one-revolution clutch rotatable on a shaft I44 mounted in thelower part of the frame I38. The other element I41 of this clutch iskeyed to the shaft I44 and normally engages the stop I48 which holds itagainst rotation. The stop I48 is pivoted at I49 and a spring I50 urgesit into the path of the clutch element I41, (Fig. 12) The free end ofthe stop I40 is connected to the core II of the solenoid I34. When thesolenoid I34 is energized, it pulls down on the stop I48, tilting itabout the pivot I49 to release the clutch which then drives the shaftI44 one revolution.

The carton feeding and forming machine is supported on the frame I38 andcomprises a pair of arms 246, 241 supporting a carton blank and linerfeeding mechanism, including the feed carriage 245, link 24B and camactuated arm 249. The frame also carries a rock shaft I51 to which iskeyed the arm I58 that operates the carton folding, forming and closingmechanism, for a full disclosure of which reference is made to ourco-pending application.

Returning now to the present invention, as best shown in Figs. 6 and '7.the shaft I44 carries a sprocket I39, which through a chain drives asprocket I40 keyed to the cam shaft I4I to which is fixed a cam I81. Thecam I81 has a race in which the roller I90 on sliding link I9I runs. Thelink I9I is forked at its end adjacent the cam and slidably engages theshaft MI. The opposite end of link I9I is pivotally connected to aswinging arm I92 intermediate its ends, the upper end of the arm beingpivotally supported on a bracket I93 secured to the frame of themachine. The lower end of arm I92 is connected by a short link I94 tothe plunger I25 that delivers the crackers from the head of the stack onbelt 3. It will be noted on reference'to Fig. 11, that the race in thecam I81 is concentric with the shaft I4I through about 240 and that theactive portion of the race embraces only or less, so that the action ofthe plunger I25 takes place during one third, or less than one third, ofthe time that the articles are being fed forwardly by the belt 3.

The plunger I25 has a forwardly extending plate 204 which is inalignment with the belt 3 when the plunger is withdrawn and receives thecrackers from the head of the stack. This plate 204 supports thecrackers as they are pushed out by the plunger I25.

As indicated in the wiring diagram (Fig. 13) each of the mercuryswitches II9, I3I is a double switch or two separate switches secured tooperate together. The switch I I9 controls the solenoid I33independently of any other switch or circuit, and in conjunction withthe two switches 42, 49 controls the circuits of the clutch solenoid 04and the solenoid 21. Thus whenever the switch H9 is closed, the solenoidI33 will be energized and lift the rails I04 so as to lift the crackersfree from conveyor 3 and bring them to rest. Then when switches 42 and49 also are closed, the railvZI, 22 will be lifted and the pushers 52,53 will push measured batches of crackers from the heads of the stackson belts I and 2 onto belt 3. The solenoid I33 must operate with twicethe frequency of the solenoids 21 and 84, so it also is connected in acircuit with the double switch I3I, which operates with twice thefrequency of the switches H9, 49 and 42. Usually one of each twoclosings of the switch I3I will coincide with a closing of switch H9,and the other closing will occur at half the interval between twoclosings of switch II9. But this timing need not be exact because thestack of crackers is sufficiently yieldable to compensate for veryslight differences in timing, and since the crackers themselves are theactual timing means, the only variations in exact timing that can occurare due to variations in the crackers, and that variation is selfcompensating.

Each of the plungers 52, 53, I25 cooperates with a cracker clamp havinga soft or yieldable head that engages the front crackers of the stacksand keeps them from falling over until the followers 34, 35, I26 arereturned into engagement with the first cracker of each stack. Theseholders are of identical construction, those cooperating with theplungers 52, 53 being indicated by the numbers 92, 93 (Fig. l) and thatwith plunger I25 being indicated by the number 340. The construction andoperation of the clamp or holders are best shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8 and10.

In Fig. '1, the plunger I25 is shown in retracted position just after ithas delivered a measure of crackers from the belt 3, and the followerI26 is in contact with and holding the front crackers of the stack. InFigs. 8 and 10, the follower I26 has been pushed to the left by theadvancing stack of crackers and has closed the switch I3I. The plungerI25 has started on its in-stroke to deliver a measured batch of crackers293, and the soft sponge-rubber head 340 of the holder or clamp isholding the front crackers so that they cannot tip over before thefollower I26 is returned. On reference to Fig. 11, the pusher I25 has aslot 34I (like the slots 88, 89 in pushers 52, 53) through which thefollower I26 returns Just as soon as the batch of crackers 293 is pushedin far enough (Fig. 8) to clear the follower.

The soft head 340 of the holder is secured to a rod 342, slidable inguides 343, 344 on the fixed frame member 345. A light coil spring 346bears at one end on the guide 344 and at the other end on the rod 342 soas to urge the holder toward the crackers. The outer end of the rod 342has a finger 341 which projects into the path of the plunger I25 so thatit will be struck by the plunger on its return stroke and the head 340withdrawn from the crackers.

In Fig. 9, we shown a metal leader or starting block, 348 that is usedat the head of each stack of crackers on the belts I, 2 and 3 whenstarting up the machine. These starting blocks may be formed from sheetmetal or cast and each is provided with two feet 349, 35.0 which willspan the belts I, 2 and 3 and rest on the rails 2|, 22, I04. The blocksare hollow so that they will pass over, without touching, the followers34, 35 and I26. One of the blocks, partly broken away, is shown in Figs.7 and 8. When the machine is started up, one of these blocks is placedat the entrant end of each conveyor I, 2, '3, where it is supported onthe respective rails 2|, 22, I04. As the stacks of crackers are advancedby the belts, the blocks are pushed ahead on the rails by the advancingstacks and keep the first crackers standing on edge until they reach andare held by the respective followers The hollow starting blocks thenpass over the followers and no longer function. They may be removed fromthe machine or left standing in their inactive positions (as shown inFig. 8) until the machine is next started when they will again be placedin position to lead the stacks of crackers.

When the pushers 34, 35 and I26 are released and returned toward thefront of the stacks of crackers, their motion will be very rapid causedby the drop of the weights in the wells II, 47, I30. If this returnmovement is not checked, the followers will strike the crackers withsufiicient force to break them. In order to check this return movementof the followers, the bottoms of the wells 4|, 4'! and I30 are closed soas to provide dash-pots for the falling weights as clearly shown inFigs. 2 and 6. However, as the weights drop the air must escape fromthese wells so each is provided with openings 35I, which may be of anysize or shape adapted for the purpose, through which the air can escapeuntil the lower edge of the falling weights passes the lower edge ofthese openings after which the air must escape between the walls of thewells and the sides of the weights and will cushion the last part of thedownward movement of the weights and cause the followers to contact thecrackers gently. The contact pins or strikers 43, 48 and I32 areadjustable with respect to the followers 34, 35 and I26, so that thetiming of the machine may be adjusted to enable the plungers 52, 53 andI 25 always to push exactly the necessary volume of crackers from theheads of the stacks on the conveyors I, 2 and 3. These pins may beadjusted in any manner as by the clamp shown holding the pin I32 in Fig.10.

As shown in Fig. 2 the distance between two adjacent pusher fingers H6is just suflicient to permit two stacks of crackers to be pushed inbetween them by the plungers 52, 53. These pusher fingers are at restwhen the crackers are pushed in which automatically releases the stop 7|I2I so that the rear finger H6 (at the right Fig., 2) now advances of iton the belt 3. This rear finger H8 is down its maximum length in thepusher I06 so that it extends well below the center of the crackers. Asit approaches the inclined track H8 at the left, the rollers I I1 rideup on these tracks which lift the finger H6 parallel to the rear face ofthe crackers but it extends down far enough to engage the top of thecrackers as shown at the left of Fig. 2 at the time that the pusheragain comes to rest. This finger extending down a short distance keepsthe rear crackers of the stack from tilting backwards until the nextoperation of the plungers delivers two more batches of crackers into thespace between this forward finger and the next following finger H6. Thepurpose in having the inclined track II8 to lift the fingers H6 is tohave the fingers lldmoving vertically when they leave the stack ofcrackers and not to be traveling a curved path as they do around thesprocket I01 which would tip the crackers over if the fingers I It werein contact with them at that time.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the conveyor 2 is longer thanthe conveyor I and that its delivery end extends further forward. Thisis so that the stacks of crackers delivered from the transfer plates 87,81' will not interfere when they are pushed simultaneously onto the belt3 and between the pusher fingers. It will also be noted that theconveyor 3 extends to the right between the conveyors i and 2 and thatthe crackers are delivered from the transfer plates 81, 87' directlyonto the belt 3. The rails I 04 do not extend the full length of thebelt 3 but end just short of where the crackers are delivered to thebelt by the pusher 53. If it is thought desirable, the transfer plates81 and 81' may be extended over that portion of the belt 3 that is atthe right of the rails I M and directly under the pusher chain I05 butwe have found that not to be necessary, although in some casesdesirable, because the pushers 52, 53 are operated so rapidly that thereis no appreciable rubbing of the belt 3 on the crackers when they arepushed in from the delivery ends of the belts I and 2, but this is notthe case with slow operating machines. The inward movement of theplunger 52 release the latch I2I which holds the pusher so that it is inmotion to support and push the rear end of the stack of crackers as soonas it is delivered between the two pusher fingers. The speed of thepusher fingers is double the speed of the conveyors I and 2 andtherefore equal to the speed of the conveyor 3. When the pusher againcomes to rest by striking the stop I 2i, the circuits have been closedso that the solenoid H33 is energized to lift the rail I I34 so that thecrackers are advanced by the belt 3 only when the pusher also is inoperation.

The solenoids I33 and I34 are energized twice as frequently as thesolenoid I27 and the plunger I25 makes twice as many reciprocations asthe plungers 52, 53. One energization of the solenoids E33 and I34 andthe lifting of the rails Wt coincides with the stopping of the pusherI05 and the other energization of the solenoids I33 and I34 occurs whenthe pusher is half way through its movement. At this time the head ofthe stack of crackers on the conveyor 3 is brought to rest and is heldby the clamp 340 (Fig. 8) while the plunger I25 is pushing forward ameas ure of crackers 293 and returning to receiving position. Duringthis interval, the pusher is still pushing the crackers ahead.

carrying the crackers along on the rails I04 so that there is a veryslight pressing together of the crackers during that time but this ispermissible because the operation of the plunger I25 is so rapid thatthe pressure on the crackers barely has time to take up the slack thatnecessarily exists between them and no appreciable pressure isdeveloped.

In the operation of the machine, the switches are closed to start themotors 20 and I35 and also the motor for driving the chain I3 (Fig. 2)if a separate motor be used for that drive. Three of the starting blocks348 are now set in position over the conveyors I, 2 and 3, the block forconveyor I being supported on the right hand end of the rails 22(Fig. 1) and another block being similarly supported of the rails 2|.The third block is placed so that it partly overlaps the right hand endsof the rails I04, with the right hand edge of the block beingsubstantially in alignment with the left hand edge of the plunger 53(Fig. l).

Crackers are now supplied in units of two standing on edge to the righthand and of the belts I and 2. These are carried toward the left by thebelts, pushing the starting blocks in front of them, until the startingblocks have passed over the heads of the followers 34, 35 and thecrackers engage these followers and push them to the left until thecontacts 43, 48 close the two switches 42, 41. Previously to this, oneof the pushers I06 had closed the switch II3 (Fig. 2). The closing ofthese three switches energizes the coils of the solenoids 2i, and 84 andalso the solenoid I33. These then operate to lift the rails 2I, 22 andI04 which lifts the stacks of crackers free from the belts I, 2 and 3,so that the latter do not rub the bottom edges of the crackers. Thesolenoid 84 releases the clutch 86 and the two plungers 52, 53 are nowforced inward toward the belt 3 pushing measured quantities of thecrackers from the belts I and 2 onto the belt 3. At the time theplungers start their inward movement, the soft heads of the holders 92,93 engage the edges of the front crackers in the stacks that are left onthe rails over the belts I and 2. As soon as the crackers are pushed infar enough to clear the followers 34, 35, the weights operating in thewells 4I, 4! return the followers through the slots in the plungersagain into contact with the leading crackers in the two stacks. When theplunger 52 gets very nearly to the end of its in-stroke, the roller I22strikes the end of the stop I2I and releases it from engagement with thesliding finger H6 in one of the pushers. The friction clutch IIO nowdrives the shaft I03 and through the sprocket I drives the chain I05that carries the pushers I06. As shown in Fig. 2 the two batches ofcrackers that are pushed onto the belt 3 by the plungers 52, 53 are justto the left of the finger II6 that is attached to the pusher chain. Withthe chain now being driven by the friction clutch in the directionindicated by the arrows (Fig. 2) the two stacks of crackers that werefed onto the belt 3 will be carried along by the belt and the finger II6will keep the rear crackers from tipping over. When the chain I05started to move, it opened the switch IIS which is in the circuit of thesolenoid I33 so that the rails I04 were lowered and the crackers in theline of the belt 3 are supported entirely on the belt. As these crackersare carried forward by the belt 3, the starting block that was placedover this belt will support their forward end.

on the right hand end I ered in bundles of 6,

The plungers 52, 53 are immediately retracted and of course when thefollowers 34, 35 started their return movement toward the forward endsof the stacks of crackers, the switches 42, 49

were opened which tie-energized the solenoid Iiland lowered the rails M,22 so that the two stacks of crackers will again be carried forward bythe belts I and 2. This operation is repeated until the head of thestack of crackers on the belt 3 reaches and presses the follower I26 tothe left in Fig. 1 so as to close the switch I3I. When this occurs theleading end of the stack of crackers is substantially in alignment withthe left hand edge of the plunger I25. The striker I32 on the followeris adjustable (Fig. 10) so that the volume of the crackers 293 may bevaried to produce the exact weight or count that is required, but theleading edge of the stack never extends beyond the left hand edge of theplunger I25. The switch I3I as previously described, is either twoswitches or a duplex switch and controls a circuit for the solenoid I33and also a circuit for the solenoid I34 (Figs. 6 and 13) that controlsthe one-revolution clutch Id'l. When this clutch operates through onerevolution, it operates the plunger I25 to feed a definite measuredquantity of crackers from the front of the stack on the belt 3 as bestshown in Fig. 8. While these crackers are being pushed off, they aresupported on the plate 204 which is attached to and forms a part of theplunger I25. When the crackers 293 (Fig. 8) being pushed off by theplunger I25 clear the head I26 of the follower, the latter immediatelystarts its return stroke toward the right which opens the switch I3I andde-energizes the two solenoids I33, I3 1. This operation continues untilall of the crackers which have been fed to the belts I and 2 have beenin turn fed to the belt 3 and pushed off in measured quantities by thepusher I25.

While we have illustrated and described our invention as being adaptedfor best use with a cracker packaging machine, it will be understoodthat it is not limited to that purpose but may be used for aligning,conveying, bunching and delivering many different articles. Anotherobvious use of the machine is as a bundling machine and in place of theconveyors I, 2 and 3 carrying crackers or other articles, they may carrypackages which will be grouped together and deliv- 8, 12 or more by thepusher I25. It is now common practice in the baking industry to wrapsmall packages of biscuit and crackers in units of 6, 12 or more byother types of bundling machines. The present invention is well-adaptedto do that type of work rapidly and inexpensively.

Having thus described one form of machine in which our invention may beembodied, we claim all modifications and equivalents thereof that maycome within the scope or spirit of our claims.

What we claim is:

i. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an endlessconveyor adapted to carry articles stacked on edge on its upper run,means for driving the conveyor continuously, rails adjacent the edges ofthe upper run of the conveyor over which the ends of the articlesproject, said rails normally being below the upper run, timing means inthe path of the moving articles carried by the conveyor and adapted tobe engaged and actuated by forward movement of the stacked articles,means controlled by said timing means when actuated by for- ,from theconveyor whereby the articles come to articles when at rest.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an endlessconveyor adapted to carry articles stacked on edge on its upper run,means for driving the conveyor continuously, rails adjacent the edges ofthe-upper run of the conveyor over which theends of the articlesproject, said rails normally being below the upper run. timing means inthe path of the moving articles carried by the conveyor and adapted tobe engaged and actuated by forward movement of the stacked articles,means controlled by said timing means when actuated by forward movementof said articles to lift said rails relative to the conveyor and raisethe articles from the conveyor whereby the articles come to rest, meanscontrolled by said timing means to push a definite quantity of saidarticles laterally from the leading end of said stack of articles whenat rest. and means whereby lateral movement of said articles from thestack releases said timing means and actuates said control means tolower said rails.

3. In a machine combination of an endless conveyor adapted to carryarticles stacked on edge on its upper run, means for driving theconveyor continuously, rails adjacent the edges of the upper run of theconveyor over which the ends of the articles project, said railsnormally being below the upper run, timing means in the path of themoving articles carried by the conveyor and adapted to be engaged andactuated by forward movement of the stacked articles, means controlledby said timing means when actuated by forward movement of said articlesto lift said rails relative to the conveyor and raise the articles fromthe Iconveyor whereby the articles come to rest, means controlled bysaid timing means to push a definite quantity of said articles laterallyfrom the leading end of said stack of articles when at rest, andclamping means holding the next adjacent article in the stack againstdisplacement while said quantity of articles is being pushed laterally.

4. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of an endlessdelivery conveyor, a transfer plate adjacent the delivery end of theupper run thereof and adapted to receive articles therefrom, an endlessreceiving conveyor parallel to said first conveyor and having thereceiving end of its upper run adjacent said transfer plate, means fordriving said conveyors continuously, a pair of rails adjacent the edgesof and normally below the upper run of each conveyor, the width of saidconveyors being less than the length of the articles to be carriedthereon whereby the ends of the articles will extend over said rails,means for raising and lowering said rails at times whereby said railswill lift the articles free from the conveyors, a timing device adjacentsaid transfer plate in the path of the articles delivered thereto fromsaid delivery conveyor for controlling said raising and lowering means,said timing device being actuated by the articles delivered to saidtransfer plate to raise said rails when a pre-determined quantity ofarticles have been delivered to the plate whereby said articles come torest, and means controlled by said timing device to push said quantityof articles on said of the class described, the I run thereof andadaptedto rece ve articles there- 8. In combination, an and lower runs,means endless belt having upper for driving said belt, said belt beingadapted to receive a continuous row of articles stacked on edge at oneend of its upper run and deliver them at the other, a follower at thedelivery end adapted to be engaged by the advancing articles and movedforward by them a distance equal to a pre-determined length of thestacked articles, means for arresting forward movement of the articleswhen the follower has been moved said pro-determined distance, a

plunger movable transversely of the belt adjacent the delivery end andadapted to engage and move laterally said pre-determined length ofarticles from the forward end of the stack, control means actuated bymovement of said follower to actuate said arresting means and saidplunger when said follower has been moved forward said definite distanceby said articles, and clamping means engaging and holding th edges ofthe articles adjacent the quantity removed laterally from the stack bythe plunger to prevent their falling over until the plunger returns.

9. In combination, two parallel endless conveyors each adapted toreceive articles stacked on edge at one end and deliver them at theother end, the delivery end of one of said conveyors being in advance ofthe other, a transfer plate at the delivery end of each conveyor toreceive the stacked articles from the respective conveyors. means tobring the measured quantities of articles from the heads of the stackson the respective conveyors to rest on said transfer plates, a thirdendless conveyor having its path of travel parallel to and lying betweenthe first two conveyors and its receiving end extending between saidtransfer plates, means for driving said conveyors continuously and thethird conveyor at twice the speed of the first two, and means forsimultaneously delivering said measured quantities from said transferplates into alignment on said third conveyor.

10. In combination, two parallel endless conveyors each adapted toreceive articles stacked on edge at one end and deliver them at theother end, the delivery end of one of said conveyors being in advance ofthe other, a third endless conveyor having its path of travel lyingbetween the first two conveyors and its receiving end overlapping thedelivery ends of the first two conveyors, means for driving saidconveyors continuously and the third conveyor at twice the speed of thefirst two, a transfer plate at the delivery end of each of said firsttwo conveyors adapted to receive articles from the respective conveyors,a pair of rails adjacent the edges of each conveyor and normally belowthe same, the

stacked articles being wider than the Conveyors and their ends extendingover the rails, a follower overlying each transfer plate and adapted tobe moved forward by the first article of the stack being delivered toeach transfer plate, a plunger adjacent each transfer plate, liftingmeans adapted to lift said rails and the articles above the conveyors,means for reciprocating the plungers across the transfer plates towardand from the third conveyor, and control means actuated in part by saidfollowers when carried forward a definite distance by the articlesadvancing across said transfer plates to actuate the lifting means toraise the rails and bring the articles to rest and to reciprocate saidplungers to push definite quantities of the articles from the heads ofthe stacks on the transfer plates to the third conveyor.

11. In combination, two parallel endless conveyors each adapted toreceive stacked articles at one end and deliver them at the other end,the

delivery end of one conveyor being in advance of the other, a pusherhaving a plurality of spaced pusher fingers adapted to travel in a pathbetween the two conveyors, means for driving the conveyors continuously,means whereby the pusher is driven intermittently, and means forsimultoneously delivering measured quantities of articles from the headsof the stacks of articles on the delivery ends of the conveyors to thepusher between two fingers thereof while the pusher is stationary.

12. In combination, two parallel endless conveyors each adapted toreceive stacked articles at one end and deliver them at the other end,the delivery end of one conveyor being in advance of the other, a pusherhaving a plurality of spaced pusher fingers adapted to travel in a pathbetween the two conveyors and having an intermittent motion, means fordriving the conveyors con tinuously, means for simultaneously deliveringmeasured quantities of articles from the heads of the stacks of articleson the delivery ends of the conveyors to the pusher between two fingersthereof while the pusher is stationary, and means for driving the pusherafter it has received the measured quantity of articles a distancesubstantially equal to the length of the stacked articles delivered toit and again bringing it to rest.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pusherchain having one run adapted to travel in a horizontal path, meanswhereby said pusher chain is driven intermittently, pusher fingersattached to said chain, means to deliver stacked articles betweenadjacent fingers on the said run of the chain, when the chain isstationary, the length of the stack of articles being substantiallyequal to the space between adjacent fingers, said intermittent drivingmeans including a stop interposed in the path of said fingers andadapted to be engage-d by a finger to hold the chain stationary attimes, means for releasing said stop upon delivery of said articlesbetween adjacent fingers, and means for returning said stop to beengaged by the next succeeding finger and stop the chain whereby thechain will be advanced the distance between fingers at each operation.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pusherchain having one run adapted to travel in a horizontal path, meanswhereby said pusher chain is driven intermittently, pusher fingersattached to said chain, means to deliver stacked articles betweenadjacent fingers on the said run of the chain when the chain isstationary, the length of the stack of articles being substantiallyequal to the space between adjacent fingers, said intermittent drivmgmeans including a stop interposed in the path of said fingers andadapted to be engaged by a finger to hold the chain stationary at times,means for releasing said stop upon delivery of said articles betweenadjacent fingers, means for returning said stop to be engaged by thenext succeeding finger and stop the chain whereby the rear fingerengaging the articles will advance the articles the distance betweenadjacent fingers, said fingers being slidable toward and from saidchain, an inclined track adjacent said chain, and means on said fingersadapted to ride up on said inclined track as each finger approaches itand lift the finger at the head of the articles away from said articles.

15. In combination, an endless conveyor having upper and lower runs, theupper run being adapted to receive articles at one end and to desolenoidto raise said rails and lift the articles,

from the conveyor when the follower has been moved a predetermineddistance.

16. In combination, an endless conveyor having upper and lower runs, theupper run being adapted to receive articles at one end and to deliverthe articles at the other end, means for driving the conveyorcontinuously, rails adjacent the edges of the said upper run andnormally below the level thereof, the articles extending beyond theedges of the conveyor and over the rails, levers for raising andlowering said rails, a solenoid for actuating said levers, a switch forcontrolling said solenoid, a follower in the path of the articlesleaving the delivery end of said conveyor adapted to be engaged andmoved by said advancing articles, means on said follower for closingsaid switch and energizing said solenoid to raise said rails and liftthe articles from the conveyor when the follower has been moved apredetermined distance, a transfer plate adjacent the delivery end ofthe conveyor to receive articles therefrom, a plunger adapted to operateacross said transfer plate and push the articles therefrom, a clutch fordriving said plunger, a solenoid controlling said clutch, and a switchfor controlling said clutch solenoid, said follower closing said clutchsolenoid switch simultaneously with the closing of said first namedswitch. I

17. In combination, an endless conveyor having upper and lower runs, theupper run being adapted to receive articles at one end and to deliverthe articles at the other end, means for driving the conveyorcontinuously, rails adjacent the edges of the said upper run andnormally below the level thereof, the articles extending beyond theedges of the conveyor and over the rails, levers for raising andlowering said rails, a transfer plate adjacent the delivery end of theconveyor to receive articles therefrom, a follower extending over saidtransfer plate in the path of the articles and adapted to be engaged andmoved forward by the advancing articles, a plunger adapted to operateacross said transfer plate and push the articles therefrom, a clutch fordriving said plunger, a latch normally holding said clutch inoperative,and means actuated by said follower when moved a predetermined distanceby said advancing articles to operate said levers to raise the rails andarticles above the conveyor and to release the plunger operating clutch,whereby the articles will come to rest and the plunger will push adefinite quantity of articles laterally from the head of the stack ofarticles on the transfer plate.

18. In combination, an endless conveyor having upper and lower runs, theupper run being adapted to receive articles at one end and to deliverthe articles at the other end, means for driving the conveyorcontinuously, rails adjacent the edges of the said upper run andnormally below the level thereof, the articles extending beyond theedges of the conveyor and over the rails, levers for raising andlowering said rails, a transfer plate adjacent the delivery end of theconveyor to receive articles therefrom, a follower extending over saidtransfer plate in the path of the articles and adapted to be engaged andmoved forward by the advancing articles, a plunger adapted to operateacross said transfer plate and push the articles therefrom, a clutch fordriving said plunger, a latch normally holding said clutch inoperative,means actuated by said follower when moved a predetermined distance bysaid advancing articles to operate said levers to raise the rails andarticles above the conveyor and to release the plunger operating clutch,whereby the articles will come to rest and turning the follower as soonas the plunger has pushed the articles from the head of the stack, theplunger having an opening through which the follower may return intoengagement with the head of the remaining articles.

19. In combination, an endless conveyor having upper and lower runs, theupper run being adapted to receive articles at one end and to deliverthe articles at the other end, means for driving the conveyorcontinuously, rails adjacent the edges of the said upper run andnormally below the level thereof, the articles extending beyond theedges of the conveyor and over the rails, levers for raising andlowering said rails, a solenoid for actuating said levers, a switch forcontrolling said solenoid, a follower in the path of the articlesleaving the delivery end of said conveyor adapted to be engaged andmoved by said advancing articles, means on said follower for closingsaid switch and energizing said solenoid to raise said rails and liftthe articles from the conveyor when the follower has been moved apredetermined distance, a transfer plate adjacent the delivery end ofthe conveyor to receive articles therefrom,

end being adjacent the delivery ends of the first two conveyors, meansfor driving said conveyors conveyors, means for simultaneouslydelivering measured quantities of articles from said transfer plates tosaid third conveyor, and means whereby forward movement of the articleson said conveyors times and controls the operation of said deliverymeans.

21. In combination, two parallel endless con- 01 the first two, meansfor simultaneously delivveyors each adapted to receive articles stackedering measured quantities of articles from said on edge at one end anddeliver them at the other transfer plates to said third conveyor, meansfor end, the delivery end of one or said conveyors delivering measuredquantities of said articles being in advance or the other, a transferplate 5 from the delivery end of said third conveyor siat the deliveryend of each of said two conveyors multaneously with the delivery ofarticles to its adapted to receive articles from the respectivereceiving end, and means whereby forward moveconveyors, a third endlessconveyor having its ment or the articles on the respective conveyorspath of travel lying between the first two contimes and controls theoperation of the respecveyors and its receiving end between the transfer10 tive delivery means; plates, means for driving said conveyors contin-EUGENE S. TASCHER. uously and the third conveyor at twice the speedWILLIAM BAZANT.

